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Newfie joke
DCHP-2 (Oct 2016)
n. — mainland Canada, Ethnicities, informal, derogatory
a joke told at the expense of Newfoundlanders.
Type: 1. Origin — It is not entirely clear when Newfie joke become popular in mainland Canada, though possibly not before Newfoundland joined Confederation in 1949 and became more connected, politically and culturally, to mainland Canada. Some evidence suggests that they are the product of the late 1960s or early 1970s (see the 1967 and 1978 quotations). Newfie jokes are often seen as harmless by mainland Canadians and some Newfoundlanders have been known to tell them as well (see, e.g. the 2007 quotation). However, Newfie jokes, like any other 'ethnic' jokes, are also seen as insensitive, aggressive or perhaps just tiresome (see the 2012 and 1987 quotations). The term is most frequent in Canada (see Chart 1).
See also COD-2, s.v. "Newfie joke", which is marked "Cdn", and OED-3, s.v. "Newfie joke", which is described as a joke told "by mainland Canadians".
See also COD-2, s.v. "Newfie joke", which is marked "Cdn", and OED-3, s.v. "Newfie joke", which is described as a joke told "by mainland Canadians".
See: Newfie(meaning 3)
Quotations
1967
The scientist heading research at a giant U.S. space industry company today kicked off a U. of T. seminar for Canadian executives with a "Newfie" joke. The woodsman was sold a newfangled chain saw on the guarantee it would cut down 100 trees a day. He brought it back complaining he was only able to cut down 20. The merchant told him to try harder. The next day he re-appeared totally exhausted, saying he was only able to cut 30 trees. The merchant said maybe the saw was faulty. He pulled the rope, setting off the motor. The woodsman jumped back startled. "Hey, what's that noise?" he shouted. The point: Today everybody has to know technology.
1978
For it was only last year, fully five years after Ontario, that Quebec discovered the Newfie Joke.
1987
For to this prolific 77-year-old storyteller, the Newfie joke is the worst thing that ever happened to Canada's poorest province.
1994
Their children are taunted at school. They are the butt of jokes, told the way Newfie jokes were once told in other parts of the country.
2007
Do Newfoundlanders howl as one whenever a Newfie joke is told somewhere else in the country? Of course not. They're big enough to laugh at themselves.
2012
I had the privilege of sitting in the House of Commons with Lincoln Alexander (Former Lieutenant-Governor Took Discrimination As Personal Challenge - obituaries, Oct. 20). He was my friend. We both served in the Joe Clark cabinet and we both went on to be vice-regals in our respective provinces.
As a Newfoundland member, I didn't feel exactly at home in the House - the Newfie joke was alive and well.
2016
Finally there's the psychology of the piece. Over time, different regions of this country were essentially belittled and mocked by a mentality of metropolitan snobbery - the West itself, for example, before oil put a stop to the image of wheatfields and cow pasture.
Or Quebec, "priest-ridden" and backward - until it learned to hit back and put an end to that, too.
Or, in perhaps the most spectacular example of overthrown prejudice, when oil started flowing in Newfoundland the "Newfie joke" disappeared.
References
- OED-3
- COD-2
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